Louis Kahn

@Architects, Family and Personal Life

Louis Kahn was one of the most reputed architects of the 20th century

Feb 20, 1901

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Biography

Personal Details

  • Birthday: February 20, 1901
  • Died on: March 17, 1974
  • Nationality: American
  • Famous: University Of Pennsylvania, Architects
  • Spouses: Esther
  • Siblings: Oscar, Sarah
  • Known as: Louis Isadore Kahn, Itze-Leib Schmuilowsky

Louis Kahn born at

Kuressaare, Governorate of Estonia, Russian Empire

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Birth Place

He married his first wife, Esther, in 1930 and they had one daughter.

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Personal Life

He then had a relationship with Anne Tyng, with whom he was working. The duo has a daughter, Alexandra Tyng.

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Personal Life

He also had a son with a woman called Harriet Pattison.

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Personal Life

Louis Isadore Kahn was born as Itze-Leib Schmuilowskyin a poor Jewish family in Parnu, Estonia. He was raised in Kuressaare in Saaremaa, which was then a part of the Livonian Governorate.

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Childhood & Early Life

In 1906, his family transferred to the United States. Because of their poor financial conditions, they could not even afford pencils. As such, they burned twigs in order to make money through Louis' drawings.

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Childhood & Early Life

He later played the piano to supplement silent movies in cinemas. He became an established citizen in 1914 and the next year, he adopted the name 'Kahn'.

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Childhood & Early Life

He studied at the University of Pennsylvania and completed his Bachelor of Architecture in 1924.

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Childhood & Early Life

Right after his graduation, he worked as a senior designer in the office of the City Architect, John Molitor.

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Career

He toured Europe in the late 20s and by 1929 he returned to the United States and worked in the agencies of Paul Philippe Cret and with Zantzinger, Borie and Medary, in Philadelphia.

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Career

He co-founded the Architectural Research Group in 1932 with Dominique Berninger. Among the assignments that he worked on during this period were unbuilt systems for public accommodation that he had presented to the Public Works Administration.

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Career

Through the 30s, he worked with George Howe on a number of ventures for the Philadelphia Housing Authority.

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Career

In the 40s, he worked together with Oscar Stonorov for the policy of housing enlargements in Philadelphia. He began to teach at Yale University in 1947.

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Career

The 'Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban' in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is considered his magnum opus. It took him twelve years to complete this magnificent edifice, starting from 1962 and ending in 1974. It still remains as one of the most important buildings in Bangladesh. Commissioned by Muzharul Islam, he designed this building with the help of his students at Yale University. The building, one of his largest works, includes dining halls, hostels, a hospital and the main Parliament building itself.

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Major Works